Slam leads OSU to Bedlam win
Standing in the batter's box at L. Dale Mitchell Park with the bases loaded in the second inning of Tuesday's Bedlam game, Oklahoma State's Colin Simpson couldn't help but think about the possibilities.
"Oh, it definitely creeps into your mind," Simpson said. "You look out there and see the bases loaded and think, 'Oh, this ball's gotta go over the fence.'"
The thought was fleeting, knocked out by two quick strikes that put Simpson back on the defensive.
But after he worked the count full, Simpson knew that Oklahoma starter Dylan Grove was going to have to put the ball in the zone.
Grove did and Simpson, correctly, was guessing that a changeup was coming his way.
On a night where the ball didn't carry well in the cool, heavy air, Simpson crushed the ball over the right-field fence for a grand slam to kickstart a 7-1 Cowboys win in a non-conference contest.
The junior from Edmond Memorial finished 2 for 5 with the four
RBI and a pair of runs scored. He raised his average to .323.
"He's very good, and the exciting thing is I think he's going to get better," Oklahoma State coach Josh Holliday said.
"I think there's still a lot of room for growth in him as a player. We've just got to keep pushing. He's not only capable of doing what he's doing but more."
Grove was making his first start since April 23, 2017, when he didn’t record an out.
He’d been solid out of the bullpen this season before moving back into a starting role Tuesday.
Grove immediately found his way into trouble with a pair of firstinning walks before finding his way out of the jam.
But in the second, Grove couldn’t work his way out of it.
Once again, walks were an issue.
He walked the leadoff batter, then another with two outs before a Ryan Cash single scored the game’s first run.
After another walk loaded the bases, Simpson delivered his blast to blow the game open.
There was no such drama on the other side early.
Cowboys starter C.J. Varela allowed just four hits and a run over five innings before giving way to Noah Sifrit, who followed it up with four scoreless innings.
There were some fireworks early in the game, when Oklahoma right fielder Steele Walker struck out looking in the opening inning.
Walker reached across the plate with his bat to indicate he thought the pitch was outside and was immediately ejected by home-plate umpire John Brammer.
"He didn't say anything to him that I know of," Sooners coach Skip Johnson said. "You tap the edge outside of the plate where the ball supposedly was and he dumped him. It happens with umpires. You've just got to move on. I just wanted to get out and calm the situation a little bit and move on with it."
Kyler Murray was 2 for 3 with an RBI double for the Sooners (17-10).
Oklahoma hosts Baylor for a Big 12 series beginning Thursday. The Cowboys’ series against TCU kicks off Friday in Stillwater.